• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

I will ask just one question, then. I am astonished that you suggest that we should have two new taxes on Heathrow - the congestion charge and a tax on aviation fuel - in the current circumstances, when Londoners are losing their jobs in the air industry, and bearing in mind that British Airways, in its submission to US authorities considering the BA/American Airlines link-up, made the point that London Heathrow was losing its status as the main hub in Europe, and we are losing business to other hubs. What are you going to do to boost Heathrow's competitive position?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

We are seeing the negative impacts at all levels. I am told that the proposals to divert the flow of the rivers will result in the loss of a colony of water voles that have recently been discovered. There is a consultation on the diversion of the twin rivers. Will you, as Mayor, respond to that consultation to ensure that that habitat is not destroyed, should Terminal 5 go ahead?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

So why doesn't he want to meet you?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

Why are there so few visits to Paris? Don't the people in Paris want to meet you?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 19 September 2001

I appreciate that the Mayor of Moscow has more powers, and can aspire to more powers, than our Mayor, and indeed has the ability to stop privatisation of the Tube there. But don't you think that the number of visits is a little excessive? We have enough problems and issues here in London to deal with, without sending staff off to Moscow so frequently.

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

Some of us might think it is a bit cynical, manipulative and devious of the Government to have tried to push Bob Kiley into a position where he had to threaten to sue himself if these negotiations did not come off. It was never a realistic stance. You referred to the Labour majority in London. Given the importance of the Parsons Brinckerhoff report, will you make sure not only that it is publicised at your press conference but that it is sent as a matter of urgency to all London Members of Parliament? Will you now attempt to join all...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

You talk about Millbank, but we have a problem with what I call "Kenbank" - the cynical manipulation of information. The last year, in which the availability of trains has dropped by 8%, is roughly the year by which you have delayed the implementation of PPP. I think Londoners need to be aware of that. Secondly, the selective interpretation of a report which no one in this world has yet seen is also cynical, manipulative, devious, and dishonest with Londoners. I have a press statement in front of me which says that the very report from which you have quoted...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

Would you say that, by sacking Kiley, the Government have now effectively declared war on London? Regardless of the advice to the contrary from every transport expert in the world, they continue to be determined to impose PPP against the wishes of London and to force you as Mayor to turn to the courts in order to get justice and be able to carry out your statutory duty under the Act to create a safe, integrated and economic Tube system for London.

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

Ken, given your outspoken condemnation of the Labour Government today and on many other occasions, and given the deafening silence of most London Labour MPs, why on earth do you want to rejoin the Labour party? Or maybe you don't any more. What efforts have you been making to break the silence of London Labour MPs and what success you have had; and when will they exercise whatever muscle they have and save London from a London Government?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 18 July 2001

I agree with you that Labour are treating Londoners appallingly; but is there any culpability here, within Romney House, as well? I know it is rather Wilsonian to say so, but I would quote what I said to you at the May Assembly meeting: "Is it not important that you play your hand very strongly during the election period, to ensure that there is a solution before it is over? Otherwise, a Labour Government will just renege on the agreement with you." Has it not been rather naive to have made Mr Kiley the Chief Executive of London Underground, and...